Apparatuses and methods for generating a unified digital check register

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, method, and computer program product for generating a unified digital check register are provided. An example method includes receiving, by input/output circuitry, check data and determining, by check evaluation circuitry, whether the received check data corresponds to a digital check or a physical check. In response to determining that the received check data corresponds to a digital check, the method includes generating digital check data based on the received check data. In response to determining that the received check data corresponds to a physical check the method includes generating physical check data based on the received check data. The method further includes inserting, by registry management circuitry, any generated digital check data with any generated physical check data into a unified check dataset, and curating, by the registry management circuitry, a unified digital check register using the unified check dataset.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/898,403, filed Feb. 16, 2018, which applicationis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Example embodiments of the present invention relate generally torecording financial transactions and, more particularly, to generating aunified digital record of physical and digital checks.

BACKGROUND

Historically, written check registers have been used as physical recordsof financial transactions and, in this capacity, have served to provideaccount balance or other financial information to a user. Although thereare ubiquitous web-based tools facilitating account balance inquiries,there is an ongoing importance for maintenance of a check register tocatalog the allocation of funds towards a check payment during the timein which the check has not yet cleared. Because checks have historicallybeen physically completed by a user and provided to a payee, maintenanceof a written check register has been a relatively straightforwardprocess by simply updating the check register at the time the check iswritten. However, new methods of electronic payment allow a user tocomplete and transmit checks electronically, and often from variedsituations and locations that, as a practical matter, may prevent a userfrom reliably updating a corresponding written check register. Use ofthese new payment options may thus result in incomplete records of auser's check transactions, or multiple independent records of a user'scheck transactions that each have incomplete information.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The challenge of maintaining an up-to-date, complete record of a user'sfinancial information has been made increasingly more difficult inrecent years by the growing prevalence of new ways in which to renderpayment. This challenge has been compounded by an inability oftraditional systems to consolidate payment information from multiplepayment sources in a practical way. Users are required to updatephysical check registers to account for checks rendered electronicallyand/or update digital check registers to account for checks renderedphysically. Either way, accurately using these traditional toolsrequires users to perform additional recordkeeping actions that oftendetract from the value provided by new tools for electronic transmissionof checks. And given the advancement and the sophistication of thevarious devices used by individuals today, there is now a ubiquity ofsuch new tools enabling the electronic transmission of checks by a user.In addition to identifying a need to resolve these problems that haveemerged as a result of the newfound electronic payment systems enabledby modern technology, the inventors have identified that the currentincrease in the number of user devices and associated modes ofconnectivity with financial institutions has also created a newopportunity for dynamically reconciling user financial information toaccount for physically issued checks and digitally issued checks thatwas historically unavailable.

To solve these issues and harness the new potential associated withelectronic/digital payments, example implementations of embodiments ofthe present invention enable the receipt and storage of both physicalcheck data and digital check data by a single device to facilitatecuration of a unified digital check register. Example implementationsdescribed herein then may also exchange check status data with anexternal device (e.g., a banking institution, other user devices, or thelike) in order to dynamically modify the unified digital check registerin ways that more accurately reflect a user's financial information. Indoing so, such example implementations confront and solve the challengesposed by advancement of technology by implementing technical solutions:(1) they provide a physical tool that enables the comprehensive curationof a user's physical checks and digital checks in a single location and(2) they provide new technical features that enable electronic devicesto dynamically update the financial information associated with theuser.

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products aredisclosed herein for generating a unified digital check register. In oneembodiment, with reference to the claimed apparatus, input/outputcircuitry configured to receive check data is provided. The apparatusmay also include check evaluation circuitry configured to determinewhether the received check data corresponds to a digital check or aphysical check. The apparatus may include digital check circuitryconfigured to, in response to a determination by the check evaluationcircuitry that received check data corresponds to a digital check,generate digital check data based on the received check data. Similarly,the apparatus may include physical check circuitry configured to, inresponse to a determination by the check evaluation circuitry thatreceived check data corresponds to a physical check, generate physicalcheck data based on the received check data. The apparatus may furtherinclude registry management circuitry configured to insert any generateddigital check data and any generated physical check data into a unifiedcheck dataset and curate a unified digital check register based upon theunified check dataset.

In some embodiments, the input/output circuitry may cause presentationof the unified digital check register to a user.

In some embodiments, the input/output circuitry receive check datacorresponding to a digital check via a user input of digital check dataprovided in response to presentation of a digital check form by theinput/output circuitry.

In other embodiments, the input/output circuitry may receive check datacorresponding to a physical check via tactile user input on a resistiveor capacitive surface of the apparatus.

In some cases, the input/output circuitry may receive check data thatcorresponds to a digital check and check data that corresponds to aphysical check.

In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include communicationscircuitry configured to transmit at least one of the digital check dataor the physical check data to an external device. The communicationscircuitry, in some further embodiments, may be configured to, inresponse to transmission of at least one of the digital check data orthe physical check data to an external device, receive check status datafrom the external device.

In some embodiments, the registry management circuitry may be configuredto interpret the check status data received from the external device,and modify the unified digital check register based upon the checkstatus data. In such an embodiment, modifying the unified digital checkregister based on the check status data may include performingreconciliation calculations between one or more data entries of theunified check dataset to modify one or more financial parameters of auser profile associated with the unified digital check register.

In other embodiments, the communications circuitry may transmit a voidinstruction to the external device.

The above summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing someexample embodiments to provide a basic understanding of some aspects ofthe invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that theabove-described embodiments are merely examples and should not beconstrued to narrow the scope or spirit of the invention in any way. Itwill be appreciated that the scope of the invention encompasses manypotential embodiments in addition to those here summarized, some ofwhich will be further described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having described certain example embodiments of the present disclosurein general terms above, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings. The components illustrated in the figures may or may not bepresent in certain embodiments described herein. Some embodiments mayinclude fewer (or more) components than those shown in the figures.

FIG. 1A illustrate photographs of an example device receiving a physicalcheck input and a digital check input.

FIG. 1B illustrates a system diagram including devices that may beinvolved in some example embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of example circuitry thatmay perform various operations in accordance with some exampleembodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example flowchart for generating a unified digitalcheck register in accordance with some example embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example flowchart for modifying the unifieddigital check register in accordance with some example embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a photograph of an example device presenting theunified digital check register in accordance with some exampleembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, theseinventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Asused herein, the description may refer to an “apparatus.” However,elements of the apparatus described herein may be equally applicable tothe claimed method and computer program product. Thus, use of any suchterms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of embodimentsof the present invention.

Overview

As noted above, methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer programproducts are described herein that provide solutions to the problemsidentified above, as well as others. In one example embodiment, anapparatus (e.g., user device) for generating a unified digital checkregister is provided that may receive check data in the form of aphysical check as shown in FIG. 1A. As described more fully hereafterwith reference to FIGS. 3-4 , a user may select an option “a” on atouchscreen of the user's device corresponding to a physical checkinput. The user's device may present a template that resembles aphysical carbon copy check in its appearance. The user may position aphysical check in contact with the user's device (e.g., a user'ssmartphone) and, in response to the user writing on the physical check,the user device may collect check data representative of the textwritten on the physical check and of unique identifying characteristicsof the physical check itself. The apparatus may also receive digitalcheck data as shown in FIG. 1A. In particular, as described more fullyhereafter, a user may select an option “b” on a touchscreen of theuser's device corresponding to a digital check input. The user devicemay (e.g., via a user request for a digital check or otherwise) renderan image of a check and request completion by the user. Through theuser's input of the requested information, the user device may collectcheck data representative of the digital check. Following receipt ofcheck data corresponding to a physical check and/or a digital check, theapparatus (e.g., user device) may combine any collected digital checkdata with any physical check data to generate a unified digital checkregister. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a user may select an option “c” torequest presentation of the unified digital check register as describedhereinafter. Accordingly, example embodiments thus enable access to acomprehensive representation of the user's financial information in aconvenient location through a unified digital check register.

Definition of Terms

As used herein, the terms “data,” “content,” “information,” “electronicinformation,” “signal,” “command,” and similar terms may be usedinterchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, received,and/or stored in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit orscope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, where a firstcomputing device is described herein to receive data from a secondcomputing device, it will be appreciated that the data may be receiveddirectly from the second computing device or may be received indirectlyvia one or more intermediary computing devices, such as, for example,one or more servers, relays, routers, network access points, basestations, hosts, and/or the like, sometimes referred to herein as a“network.” Similarly, where a first computing device is described hereinas sending data to a second computing device, it will be appreciatedthat the data may be sent directly to the second computing device or maybe sent indirectly via one or more intermediary computing devices, suchas, for example, one or more servers, remote servers, cloud-basedservers (e.g., cloud utilities), relays, routers, network access points,base stations, hosts, and/or the like.

As used herein, the term “comprising” means including but not limitedto, and should be interpreted in the manner it is typically used in thepatent context. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, andhaving should be understood to provide support for narrower terms suchas consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantiallyof.

As used herein, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to oneembodiment,” “in some embodiments,” and the like generally refers to thefact that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic followingthe phrase may be included in at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in more than one embodiment of the present disclosuresuch that these phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

As used herein, the word “example” is used herein to mean “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described hereinas “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

As used herein, the terms “user device,” “first user device,” “mobiledevice,” “electronic device,” and the like refer to computer hardwarethat is configured (either physically or by execution of software) toaccess one or more services made available by an external server orcomputing device (e.g., associated with a corporation, banking entity,or other 3rd party) and, among various other functions, is configured todirectly, or indirectly, transmit and receive at least data (e.g., checkstatus data defined hereafter). Example user devices may include asmartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable device(e.g., smart glasses, smart watch, or the like), and the like. In someembodiments, a user device may include a “smart device” that is equippedwith chip of other electronic device that is configured to communicatewith the external device via Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, 5G, RFIDprotocols, and the like. By way of a particular example, a user devicemay be a mobile phone equipped with a Wi-Fi radio that is configured tocommunicate with a Wi-Fi access point that is in communication with anexternal device (e.g., server or other computing) via a network.

As used herein, the terms “user profile” and “first user profile” mayrefer to a collection of settings, configurations, identifiers, data,and information associated with a specific user. A user profileconfigured in accordance with the present invention may be accessible byone or more of software applications that are supported by an externalserver or computing device (e.g., associated with a corporation, bankingentity, or other 3rd party) and, thus, may include application-specificpreferences, settings, configurations, data, and information. In someexample embodiments, a user profile may include one or more financialparameters modified as based on check status data transmitted and/orreceived by the user device associated with the user profile.

As used herein, the term “external device” refers to any object, device,or system which may be in network communication with the user device.For example, an external device may be an external server or computingdevice (e.g., associated with a corporation, banking entity, or other3rd party) that may request, receive, and/or provide data (e.g., checkstatus data or the like) to or from one of the devices described above.By way of a more particular example, an external device may include aserver of a banking entity configured to supply, in response to receiptof digital check data or physical check data, check status data (e.g.,comprising account information, transaction history, current balance,clearance indications, or the like) to a user (e.g., transmitted to theuser's device) indicating that, for example, a physical check hascleared. In some alternative or additional embodiments, the externaldevice may refer to a user device associated with a second user, seconduser device, and/or second user profile. By way of example, an externaldevice may include a mobile device of a second user configured to, inresponse to receipt of digital check data or physical check data,transmit check status data indicating that, for example, a correspondingdigital or physical check has been received and deposited by the seconduser.

As used herein, the term “digital check dataset” refers to a datastructure or repository for storing digital check data. By way ofexample, the digital check dataset may store data corresponding to oneor more financial parameters of a digital check received by the userdevice (e.g., parameters generated from received check datacorresponding to a digital check, received from an external device, orthe like). The digital check data may be accessible by one or moresoftware applications of the user device and/or external device.

As used herein, the term “physical check dataset” refers to a datastructure or repository for storing physical check data. By way ofexample, the physical check dataset may store data corresponding to oneor more financial parameters of a physical check received by the userdevice (e.g., parameters generated from received check datacorresponding to a physical check, or the like). The physical check datamay also be accessible by one or more software applications of the userdevice and/or external device.

As used herein, the term “unified check dataset” refers to a datastructure or repository for storing a complete record of all generatedphysical check data or digital check data corresponding to a particularfinancial account, entity, user, user device, user profile, or the like,and which is utilized in generating a unified digital check register. Byway of example, the unified check dataset may store data correspondingto one or more financial parameters of a physical check and one or morefinancial parameters a digital check received by the user device. Theunified check dataset may be accessible by one or more softwareapplications hosted by the user device and/or external device.Furthermore, the unedified check dataset may be configured to accesseither of the physical check dataset or digital check dataset directly.

As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” refers tonon-transitory storage hardware, non-transitory storage device ornon-transitory computer system memory that may be accessed by acontroller, a microcontroller, a computational system or a module of acomputational system to encode thereon computer-executable instructionsor software programs. A non-transitory “computer-readable medium” may beaccessed by a computational system or a module of a computational systemto retrieve and/or execute the computer-executable instructions orsoftware programs encoded on the medium. Exemplary non-transitorycomputer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or moretypes of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for example,one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical disks, one ormore USB flash drives), computer system memory or random access memory(such as, DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM), and the like.

Having set forth a series of definitions called-upon throughout thisapplication, an example system architecture and example apparatus isdescribed below for implementing example embodiments and features of thepresent disclosure.

Device Architecture and Example Apparatus

With reference to FIG. 1B, an example system 100 is illustrated with anapparatus (e.g., user device 200) communicably connected with anexternal device 110 via a network 104. The example system 100 may alsoinclude a digital check dataset 112, a physical check dataset 114, and aunified check 116 stored by the user device 200 or by a separate memoryin communication with the user device 200.

The user device 200 may include circuitry, networked processors, or thelike configured to perform some or all of the apparatus-based (e.g.,unified digital check register-based) processes described herein, andmay be any suitable network server and/or other type of processingdevice. In this regard, user device 200 may be embodied by any of avariety of devices. For example, the user device 200 may be configuredto receive check data and may include any of a variety of fixedterminals, such as a server, desktop, or kiosk, or it may comprise anyof a variety of mobile terminals, such as a portable digital assistant(PDA), mobile telephone, smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer,or in some embodiments, a peripheral device that connects to one or morefixed or mobile terminals. Example embodiments contemplated herein mayhave various form factors and designs, but will nevertheless include atleast the components illustrated in FIG. 2 and described in connectiontherewith. In some embodiments, the user device 200 may be locatedremotely from the external device 110, the digital check dataset 112,the physical check dataset 114, and/or the unified check dataset 116,although in other embodiments, the user device 200 may comprise theexternal device 110, the digital check dataset 112, the physical checkdataset 114, and/or the unified check dataset 116. The user device 200may, in some embodiments, comprise several computing devices performinginterconnected and/or distributed functions. Despite the manyarrangements contemplated herein, the user device 200 is shown anddescribed herein as a single computing device to avoid unnecessarilyovercomplicating the disclosure.

The user device 200 may be associated with a first user and a first userprofile. Additional user devices (e.g., when the external device 110 isa device of a second user) may be associated with a second user andsecond user profile. Although only a single user device 200 isillustrated in FIG. 1B, the example system 100 may include any number ofuser devices that may be associated with the first user profile. Asdefined above, each user device 200 may be a cellular telephone (e.g., asmartphone and/or other type of mobile telephone), laptop, tablet,electronic reader, e-book device, media device, wearable, smart glasses,smartwatch, or any combination of the above.

The network 104 may include one or more wired and/or wirelesscommunication networks including, for example, a wired or wireless localarea network (LAN), personal area network (PAN), metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), wide area network (WAN), or the like, as well as anyhardware, software and/or firmware for implementing the one or morenetworks (e.g., network routers, switches, hubs, etc.). For example, thenetwork 104 may include a cellular telephone, mobile broadband, longterm evolution (LTE), GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16,IEEE 802.20, Wi-Fi, dial-up, and/or WiMAX network. Furthermore, thenetwork 104 may include a public network, such as the Internet, aprivate network, such as an intranet, or combinations thereof, and mayutilize a variety of networking protocols now available or laterdeveloped including, but not limited to TCP/IP based networkingprotocols.

The external device 110, as defined above, may be associated with anyentity that may be in network communication with the user device 200.For example, the external device 110 may be an external server orcomputing device (e.g., associated with a corporation, banking entity,or other 3rd party) that may request, receive, and/or provide data(e.g., check status data or the like) to or from the user device 200. Byway of a more particular example, the external device 110 may include aserver of a bank configured to supply, in response to receipt of digitalcheck data or physical check data transmitted by the user device 200,check status data (e.g., comprising account information, transactionhistory, current balance, clearance indications, or the like) to theuser device 200. In some embodiments, the external device 110 may referto a user device associated with a second user, second user device,and/or second user profile. By way of example, the external device 110may include a mobile device of a second user configured to, in responseto receipt of digital check data or physical check data transmitted bythe user device 200, transmit check status data to the user device 200.

In some embodiments, as described hereinafter, the user device 200 maybe configured to receive check data and/or display the received checkdata (e.g., generated digital check data, generated physical check data,a unified digital check register, or the like). The user device 200 mayalso allow a user to input commands (such as by writing on a physicalcheck in contact with a touch-sensitive surface of the user device 200),which may be stored in one or more datasets as described above, conveyedto the external device 100 via the network 104, or the like. Check data,such as check data determined to correspond to digital check data, maybe generated via one or more input devices including, withoutlimitation, a touchscreen, a microphone, a camera, and/or a motionsensor device (e.g., an accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.).

The digital check dataset 112 may be stored by any suitable storagedevice configured to store some or all of the information describedherein (e.g., memory 204 of the user device 200 or a separate memorysystem separate from the user device 200, such as one or more databasesystems, backend data servers, network databases, cloud storage devices,or the like provided by an external device 110 (e.g., a bankingentity)). The digital check dataset 112 may comprise data received fromthe user device 200 (e.g., via a memory 204 and/or processor(s) 202),and the corresponding storage device may thus store this data. Thephysical check dataset 114 and the unified check dataset 116 may bestored by any suitable storage device in similar fashion as the digitalcheck dataset 112. It will be noted, however, that the physical checkdataset 114 and the unified check dataset 116 may be stored by distinctstorage devices from the storage device storing the digital checkdataset 112, or they may be stored by the same storage devices. To avoidunnecessarily overcomplicating the disclosure, the digital check dataset112, physical check dataset 114, and the unified check dataset 116 areshown and described using corresponding blocks, despite the fact thatthey may each be hosted by any number of specific physical devices,together or separately.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the user device 200 may include a processor202, a memory 204, input/output circuitry 206, and communicationscircuitry 208. Moreover, user device 200 may include check evaluationcircuitry 210, digital check circuitry 212, physical check circuitry214, and registry management circuitry 216. The user device 200 may beconfigured to execute the operations described below in connection withFIGS. 3-4 . Although these components 202-216 are described in somecases using functional language, it should be understood that theparticular implementations necessarily include the use of particularhardware. It should also be understood that certain of these components202-216 may include similar or common hardware. For example, two sets ofcircuitry may both leverage use of the same processor 202, memory 204,communications circuitry 208, or the like to perform their associatedfunctions, such that duplicate hardware is not required for each set ofcircuitry. The use of the term “circuitry” as used herein with respectto components of the user device 200 therefore includes particularhardware configured to perform the functions associated with respectivecircuitry described herein. As described in the example above, in someembodiments, various elements or components of the circuitry of the userdevice 200 may be housed within one or more of the user device 200 orthe external device 110. As indicated previously, it will be understoodin this regard that some of the components described in connection withthe user device 200 may be housed within one of these devices, whileother components are housed within another of these devices, or by yetanother device not expressly illustrated in FIG. 1B.

Of course, while the term “circuitry” should be understood broadly toinclude hardware, in some embodiments, the term “circuitry” may alsoinclude software for configuring the hardware. For example, although“circuitry” may include processing circuitry, storage media, networkinterfaces, input/output devices, and the like, other elements of theuser device 200 may provide or supplement the functionality ofparticular circuitry.

In some embodiments, the processor 202 (and/or co-processor or any otherprocessing circuitry assisting or otherwise associated with theprocessor) may be in communication with the memory 204 via a bus forpassing information among components of the user device 200. The memory204 may be non-transitory and may include, for example, one or morevolatile and/or non-volatile memories. In other words, for example, thememory may be an electronic storage device (e.g., a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium). The memory 204 may be configured tostore information, data, content, applications, instructions, or thelike, for enabling the user device 200 to carry out various functions inaccordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

The processor 202 may be embodied in a number of different ways and may,for example, include one or more processing devices configured toperform independently. Additionally or alternatively, the processor mayinclude one or more processors configured in tandem via a bus to enableindependent execution of instructions, pipelining, and/ormultithreading. The use of the term “processing circuitry” may beunderstood to include a single core processor, a multi-core processor,multiple processors internal to the user device, and/or remote or“cloud” processors.

In an example embodiment, the processor 202 may be configured to executeinstructions stored in the memory 204 or otherwise accessible to theprocessor 202. Alternatively or additionally, the processor 202 may beconfigured to execute hard-coded functionality. As such, whetherconfigured by hardware or by a combination of hardware with software,the processor 202 may represent an entity (e.g., physically embodied incircuitry) capable of performing operations according to an embodimentof the present invention while configured accordingly. Alternatively, asanother example, when the processor 202 is embodied as an executor ofsoftware instructions, the instructions may specifically configure theprocessor 202 to perform the algorithms and/or operations describedherein when the instructions are executed.

The user device 200 further includes input/output circuitry 206 thatmay, in turn, be in communication with the processor 202 to provideoutput to a user and to receive input from a user, user device, oranother source. In this regard, the input/output circuitry 206 maycomprise a display that may be manipulated by a mobile application. Insome embodiments, the input/output circuitry 206 may also includeadditional functionality keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen,touch areas, soft keys, a microphone, a speaker, or other input/outputmechanisms. The processor 202 and/or user interface circuitry comprisingthe processor 202 may be configured to control one or more functions ofdisplay through computer program instructions (e.g., software and/orfirmware) stored on a memory accessible to the processor (e.g., memory204, and/or the like), such as to the unified digital check registerdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1A, the input/outputcircuitry 206 may comprise a touchscreen display configured to contact(e.g., abut, support, be disposed adjacent to, or the like) a physicalmedium (e.g., a physical check). In such an embodiment, the input/outputcircuitry 206 may receive check data corresponding to a user's writteninput on the physical check (e.g., physical check data) by recording(e.g., via a note-taking application, touch areas/features, or the like)the user's markings on the physical medium in contact with thetouchscreen display. In some embodiments, this is facilitated throughthe use of physical paper checks with a special anti-static andconductive material. Such materials provide better electricalconduction, and ensure that a pen/stylus can easily operate theresistive or capacitive touch screen of a mobile through a paper checkplaced over the mobile's screen.

Most smartphones use capacitive touch screens as opposed to resistivetouchscreens. Capacitive touch screens make use of the electricalproperties of the human body. A capacitive screen is usually made of oneinsulating layer, such as glass, which is coated on the inside by atransparent conductive material. Because the human body is conductive(e.g., electricity can pass through it), a capacitive screen uses thisconductivity as an input signal, because when one touches a capacitivetouchscreen with a finger, one causes a change in the screen'selectrical field. When a change of this nature is registered, thelocation of the touch is determined by a processor. Because capacitivetouch screens rely on an electrical change caused by a human skincontact, capacitive touch screens may require a non-static conductivematerial (e.g., physical paper checks with a special anti-static andconductive material) to cause a change in the electrostatic field of thetouch screen when a user is writing on a check placed on top of acapacitive touch screen.

On the other hand, a resistive touchscreen relies on the change ofresistance due to the pressure a user applies on the screen. A resistivetouchscreen is made out of two thin layers separated by a thin gap. Whenthese two layers of coating touch each other, a voltage is passed, whichis in turn processed as a touch in that location. Accordingly, when afinger, stylus, or any other instrument touches a resistive screen, itcreates a slight pressure on the top layer, which is then transferred tothe adjacent layer to register the touch. Because resistive screens aresensitive to pressure, any physical tool (e.g., a gloved finger, awooden rod, a fingernail, a stylus, or the like) that creates sufficientpressure on the point of impact of a resistive touchscreen can make thetouch interface work. For a computing device 200 having a resistivetouch screen, a checkbook made from anti-static and conductive materialis not necessary.

In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1A, the input/outputcircuitry 206 may comprise a touchscreen display configured to render animage of a check with one or more modifiable fields. In such anembodiment, a user may input check data (e.g., digital check data) bymodifying the fields displayed on the touchscreen display.

The communications circuitry 208 may be any means such as a device orcircuitry embodied in either hardware or a combination of hardware andsoftware that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to anetwork and/or any other device, circuitry, or module in communicationwith the user device 200. In this regard, the communications circuitry208 may include, for example, a network interface for enablingcommunications with a wired or wireless communication network. Forexample, the communications circuitry 208 may include one or morenetwork interface cards, antennae, buses, switches, routers, modems, andsupporting hardware and/or software, or any other device suitable forenabling communications via a network. Additionally or alternatively,the communication interface may include the circuitry for interactingwith the antenna(s) to cause transmission of signals via the antenna(s)or to handle receipt of signals received via the antenna(s). Thesesignals may be transmitted by the user device 200 using any of a numberof wireless personal area network (PAN) technologies, such as Bluetooth®v1.0 through v3.0, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), infrared wireless (e.g.,IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), induction wireless transmission, or thelike. In addition, it should be understood that these signals may betransmitted using Wi-Fi, Near Field Communications (NFC), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) or other proximity-basedcommunications protocols.

Check evaluation circuitry 210 includes hardware components designed toanalyze and interpret check data received by the user device 200. Thecheck evaluation circuitry 210 may further include hardware componentsdesigned to determine if the check data received by the user device 200corresponds to a digital check or a physical check. These hardwarecomponents may, for instance, utilize elements of the input/outputcircuitry 206 to receive check data, and the memory 204 to retrieve oneor more instructions for evaluating the received check data. Checkevaluation circuitry 210 may utilize processing circuitry, such as theprocessor 202, to perform its corresponding operations, and may utilizememory 204 to store collected information. It will be noted, however,that the functionality of the check evaluation circuitry 210 may, insome embodiments, be performed in whole or in part by the input/outputcircuitry 206.

Digital check circuitry 212 includes hardware components designed togenerate digital check data in an instance in which the check datareceived by the user device 200 corresponds to a digital check. Thesehardware components may, for instance, utilize elements of theinput/output circuitry 206 to receive check data corresponding to adigital check, and the processor 202 to generate digital check databased upon the received check data. Digital check circuitry 212 mayutilize processing circuitry, such as the processor 202, to perform itscorresponding operations, and may utilize memory 204 to store collectedinformation.

Physical check circuitry 214 includes hardware components designed togenerate physical check data in an instance in which the check datareceived by the user device 200 corresponds to a physical check. Thesehardware components may, for instance, utilize elements of theinput/output circuitry 206 to receive check data corresponding to aphysical check, and the processor 202 to generate physical check databased upon the received check data. Physical check circuitry 212 mayutilize processing circuitry, such as the processor 202, to perform itscorresponding operations, and may utilize memory 204 to store collectedinformation.

Registry management circuitry 216 includes hardware components designedto combine any check data and generate a unified digital check registerbased upon the check data received by the user device 200. The registrymanagement circuitry 216 may further include hardware componentsdesigned combine any generated digital check data with any generatedphysical check data to form a unified check dataset and generate aunified digital check register based upon the unified check dataset.These hardware components may, for instance, utilize processingcircuitry, such as the processor 202, to perform its correspondingoperations, and may utilize memory 204 to store collected information.

It should also be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the checkevaluation circuitry 210, digital check circuitry 212, physical checkcircuitry 214, or registry management circuitry 216 may include aseparate processor, specially configured field programmable gate array(FPGA), or application specific interface circuit (ASIC) to perform itscorresponding functions.

In addition, computer program instructions and/or other type of code maybe loaded onto a computer, processor or other programmable server'scircuitry to produce a machine, such that the computer, processor otherprogrammable circuitry that execute the code on the machine create themeans for implementing the various functions, including those describedin connection with the components of user device 200.

As described above and as will be appreciated based on this disclosure,embodiments of the present invention may be configured as systems,methods, mobile devices, and the like. Accordingly, embodiments maycomprise various means including entirely of hardware or any combinationof software with hardware. Furthermore, embodiments may take the form ofa computer program product comprising instructions stored on at leastone non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., computersoftware stored on a hardware device). Any suitable computer-readablestorage medium may be utilized including non-transitory hard disks,CD-ROMs, flash memory, optical storage devices, or magnetic storagedevices.

Example Operations for Generating a Digital Check Register

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart containing a series of operations forgenerating a unified digital check register. The operations illustratedin FIG. 3 may, for example, be performed by, with the assistance of,and/or under the control of an apparatus (e.g., user device 200), asdescribed above. In this regard, performance of the operations mayinvoke one or more of processor 202, memory 204, input/output circuitry206, communications circuitry 208, check evaluation circuitry 210,digital check circuitry 212, physical check circuitry 214, and/orregistry management circuitry 216.

As shown in operation 305, the apparatus (e.g., user device 200)includes means, such as memory 204, input/output circuitry 206,communications circuitry 208, or the like, for receiving check data. Inone embodiment, the user device 200 may simply gather the check datafrom a local memory 204, in an instance in which the check data wasreceived in a historical operation that occurred previously. But beyondretrieval of this data from a memory, this check data may be received innear-real-time or substantially in real-time. To this end, in someexample embodiments, as described above, the input/output circuitry 206may receive check data corresponding to a physical check via a writtenuser input on a physical medium located in contact with the user device200. By way of example and as shown in FIG. 1A, the input/outputcircuitry 206 of the user device 200 may define a resistive orcapacitive touchscreen or other responsive display surface configured tocontact a physical medium (e.g., a physical check). In such anembodiment, as a user writes on the physical medium in contact with thetouchscreen display, the user device 200 may include a note-takingapplication, text recognition application, or the like that operates toidentify the physically-inputted check data. In some embodiments, thephysical medium (e.g., a user's checkbook and physical checks) may bedimensioned (e.g., sized and shaped) to compliment or substantiallyalign with display defined by the user device 200.

Furthermore, depending on the nature of the input/output circuitry 206(i.e., whether the input/output circuitry 206 comprises a capacitive orresistive surface), the physical medium may comprise an anti-staticand/or conductive material such that contact between the physical medium(e.g., physical check) and the touchscreen display is recognizable bythe input/output circuitry 206. As is evident by the examples describedherein, a physical check comprising an anti-static and/or conductivematerial may be operationally required to facilitate collection of checkdata corresponding to a physical check. Still further, in someembodiments, the input/output circuitry 206 may be configured for usewith only an appropriate input device (e.g., ink pen or the like).

In some example embodiments, as described above, the input/outputcircuitry may receive check data corresponding to a digital check via auser input of check data on a digital check form generated by the userdevice 200. By way of example and as shown in FIG. 1A, the input/outputcircuitry 206 may (e.g., via a user request or automatically) display orotherwise render a digital check form for viewing by a user. In such anembodiment, one or more fields (e.g., payee, date, check amount, etc.)defined by the digital check form may be modifiable by a user. Forexample, the digital check form may request that a user input a checkamount via a touchscreen display. In some embodiments, once each fieldis modified to include the appropriate check data and confirmed by anassociated user, the digital check form may lock to prevent furthermodification of the check data. In this way, the digital check form mayprevent fraud or unauthorized tampering with a user's check data.

In some other example embodiments, with continued reference to operation305, the user device 200 may receive, by communication circuitry 208,check data corresponding to a digital check. As shown in FIG. 1B, theuser device 200 may be communicably connected with one or more externaldevices 110 via network 104. By way of example, the external device 110may transmit check data corresponding to a digital check (e.g., directdeposits, account refunds, or the like) to the user device 200 withoutaction by the user of the user device 200. For instance, the user device200 may dynamically receive check data from a banking entity viaautomatic or direct deposits into an account associated with the user,user profile, and/or user device 200. In other embodiments, the externaldevice 110 may correspond to a second user device associated with asecond user. By way of example, a second user device (e.g., unrelated tothe first user device) may transmit check data corresponding to adigital check to the user device 200. In particular, various mobilepayment applications allow check data to be directly transferred betweenmobile devices. In this way, another, second user device may transmitcheck data to the user device 200. While the description hereinreferences transmission of check data corresponding to a digital checkdirectly between the user device 200 and one or more external devices110, the present disclosure contemplates that any number of intermediarydevices (e.g., banking server, third-party payment application, etc.)may also be used.

Thereafter, as shown in operation 310, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as processor 202, check evaluation circuitry210, or the like, for determining whether the received check datacorresponds to a digital check or a physical check. By way of example,the check evaluation circuitry 210 may analyze all check data andappropriately group or otherwise sort the check data into check datathat corresponds to a digital check or a physical check. As is evidentby the examples described herein, for example, in an instance in which awritten input to a physical medium in contact with the user device 200occurs, the check evaluation circuitry 210 may determine that the checkdata corresponds to a physical check. Similarly, for example, in aninstance in which a digital form is presented to a user or check data isreceived without a written input to a physical medium, the checkevaluation circuitry 210 may determine that the check data correspondsto a digital check. The determination performed by check evaluationcircuitry 210 may, therefore, be informed by the functions performed bythe user device 200 during each iteration of collecting the check data.

As shown in operations 315 and 325, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as digital check circuitry 212, or the like,for, in response to determining that the received check data correspondsto a digital check, generating digital check data based on the receivedcheck data. By way of example, the digital check circuitry 212 mayreceive check data, determined to correspond to a digital check by thecheck evaluation circuitry 210, and may generate digital check databased upon this check data. In one such example, the digital checkcircuitry 212 may analyze received check data that corresponds tovarious financial parameters of a digital check, described more fullywith reference to FIG. 5 , and may order or otherwise group this checkdata to generate digital check data. As described above with referenceto FIG. 1B, the digital check data may, in some embodiments, be storedin part or in whole in the digital check dataset 112.

As shown in operations 320 and 330, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as processor 202, memory 204, input/outputcircuitry 206, physical check circuitry 214, or the like, for, inresponse to determining that the received check data corresponds to aphysical check, generate physical check data based on the received checkdata. By way of example, the physical check circuitry 214 may receivecheck data, determined to correspond to a physical check by the checkevaluation circuitry 210, and may generate physical check data basedupon this check data. In one such example, the physical check circuitry214 may analyze received check data that corresponds to variousfinancial parameters of a physical check, described more fully withreference to FIG. 4 , and may order or otherwise group this check datato generate physical check data. As described above with reference toFIG. 1B, the physical check data may, in some embodiments, be stored inpart or in whole in the physical check dataset 114.

While described above with reference to separate circuitry (e.g.,digital check circuitry 212 and physical check circuitry 214) generatingonly respective check data (e.g., digital check data or physical checkdata), the present disclosure contemplates that in many embodiments, thecheck data received at operation 305 may include both digital checks andphysical check data. For instance, a user may, via input/outputcircuitry 206, input check data that corresponds to a digital check and,subsequently, may input check data that corresponds to a physical check,or vice versa. In this fashion, such embodiments of the presentdisclosure enable both digital check data and physical check data to bereceived by the user device 200. Furthermore, in some embodiments, aportion of the check data received by the input/output circuitry 206 fora particular check may correspond to a digital check while anotherportion of the check data for the same check may correspond to aphysical check. By way of example, a user may attempt to input checkdata corresponding to a physical check via writing on a physical mediumin contact with the user device 200. During input, however, the physicalmedium (e.g., the check itself) may tear, smear, etc. such that aportion of the check data is unclear or has not yet been entered. Insuch a case, the user device 200 may prompt the user to input check datacorresponding to a digital check to confirm or supplement the previouslyreceived check data corresponding to a physical check. In this way, theuser device 200 may simultaneously (e.g., in a single transaction)receive check data that corresponds to both a physical check and adigital check.

Thereafter, as shown in operations 335 and 340, the apparatus (e.g.,user device 200) includes means, such as registry management circuitry216, or the like, for inserting any generated digital check data withany generated physical check data into a unified check dataset and forcurating a unified digital check register using the unified checkdataset. By way of example, the registry management circuitry 216 mayquery each of the digital check dataset 112 and the physical checkdataset 114 for generated digital check data or generated physical checkdata, respectively. Thereafter, the registry management circuitry 216may combine any responsive digital check data and physical check datainto a single dataset representative of all checks transmitted,received, inputted, or the like by the user and associated user device200. The registry management circuitry may then generate and/or update aunified digital check register based on the unified check dataset. Theunified digital check register may, in some embodiments, be presented toa user subsequently by the input/output circuitry 206 (or may betransmitted via communication circuitry 208 for presentation to a uservia a separate device). As shown in FIG. 5 , described hereinafter, theunified digital check register may thus be provided as a graphicalrepresentation including not only the digital checks issued by the user,but also the physical checks issued by the user.

The registry management circuitry 216, in combining any generateddigital check data and any generated physical check data to generate aunified digital check register, may identify one or more financialparameters, described more fully with reference to FIG. 4 , of a userprofile associated with each data entry in the unified check dataset.Furthermore, the unified digital check register may represent an orderedor grouped presentation of the digital checks and physical checks of theuser. By way of example, in some embodiments, the registry managementcircuitry 216 may determine a check date for each digital check andphysical check of the user and may organize these checks in achronologically ordered, unified set. Furthermore, in some embodiments,the unified digital check register may present a current balance for theuser based upon a reconciliation of the digital checks and the physicalchecks received by the user device 200. While described in detail withreference to FIG. 4 hereafter, each generated digital check data entryand generated physical check data entry may include a correspondingcheck amount. Accordingly, the registry management circuitry 216 may sumthe check amounts for each entry to determine a current balance,outstanding check amount, or other financial parameters as describedbelow.

Turning next to FIG. 4 , a flowchart is shown that describes exampleembodiments for modifying the unified digital check register. Theoperations illustrated in FIG. 4 may, for example, be performed by, withthe assistance of, and/or under the control of an apparatus (e.g., userdevice 200), as described above. In this regard, performance of theoperations may invoke one or more of processor 202, memory 204,input/output circuitry 206, communications circuitry 208, checkevaluation circuitry 210, digital check circuitry 212, physical checkcircuitry 214, and/or registry management circuitry 216.

In operation 405, the apparatus (e.g., user device 200) includes means,such as communications circuitry 208, or the like, for transmitting atleast one of the digital check data or the physical check data to anexternal device. By way of example, and as is required by the nature ofcheck clearing services, the user device 200 may, in some embodiments,transmit received check data (e.g., digital or physical) to an externaldevice 110 in communication with the user device 200. By way of a moreparticular example, a user may input check data that corresponds to aphysical check as described above with reference to FIG. 3 . The userdevice 200 may transmit the generated physical check data to a bankingentity (e.g., the external device 110) in order to effectuate theclearance cycle and cause transmission of funds from a first financialaccount to a second.

Thereafter, as shown in operation 410, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as input/output circuitry 206, communicationscircuitry 208, or the like, for, in response to transmission of at leastone of the digital check data or the physical check data to an externaldevice, receiving a check status data from the external device 110. Byway of continued example, upon receipt of the transmitted physical checkdata at operation 405, the banking entity (e.g., external device 110)may provide a pending alert (e.g., checking status data) to the userdevice 200. The checking status data described herein may refer to anystatus information (e.g., current balance, pending payment, insufficientfunds, or the like) that may be relevant to performance of the checkclearing process. As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the unified digital checkregister may, in some embodiments, display the checking status dataassociated with each entry (e.g., each check) in the unified digitalcheck register.

Thereafter, as shown in operation 415, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as registry management circuitry 216, or thelike, for interpreting the check status data received from the externaldevice. As described above with reference to operation 410, the checkstatus data may refer to any status information that may be user tomodify or inform the unified digital check register. In this way, theregistry management circuitry 216 may interpret the data provided by thebanking entity (e.g., external device 110) and determine which unifieddigital check register data entry is modified by the check status dataand the manner by which the entry should be modified. As in traditional,written check books, the checking status data may, in some embodiments,define a corresponding check number such that the checking status datamay be properly grouped with the corresponding entry.

Thereafter, as shown in operation 420, the apparatus (e.g., user device200) includes means, such as registry management circuitry 216, or thelike, for modifying the unified check register based upon the checkstatus data. By way of example, once the check status data is properlygrouped with its corresponding entry in the unified digital checkregister, the corresponding entry may be modified in light of the checkstatus data. For example, and as shown in operation 425, the apparatus(e.g., user device 200) may include means, such as processor 202,registry management circuitry 216, or the like, for performingreconciliation calculations modifying one or more financial parametersof a user profile associated with the unified check register. By way ofcontinued example, the check status data received from the bankingentity (e.g., external device 110) in response to the transmittedphysical check data may indicate that the check has cleared. In thisway, the check status data may modify the current balance (e.g.,financial parameter) of the user's bank account (e.g., user profile) byreconciling this cleared check in the account's current balance. Whiledescribed herein with reference to check status data indicative of acleared check, the present disclosure contemplates that the check statusdata may include any known checking operation (e.g., lack of funds,check not presented, expired, not cleared, or the like). Similarly, thepresent disclosure reference a user's account balance as arepresentative financial parameter. The present disclosure, however,contemplates that the one or more financial parameters as claimed mayencompass any known feature, parameter, element, or the like of theuser's bank account (e.g., user profile). For example, the one or morefinancial parameters may refer to a value in outstanding checks, numberof physical checks remaining, debt-to-income ratio, or the like.

In some embodiments, as shown in operation 430, the apparatus (e.g.,user device 200) may include means, such as processor 202, memory 204,input/output circuitry 206, communications circuitry 208, registrymanagement circuitry 216, or the like, for transmitting a voidinstruction to the external device 110. By way of example, in someembodiments, a user may determine that a previously issued physical ordigital check should no longer be processed (e.g., the transactionalterms effectuated) by the banking entity (e.g., external device 110). Insome instances, the user's account information may be comprised suchthat the user and associated user device wish to stop unauthorizedaccess to his or her account. In other instances, a user may determinethat insufficient funds (e.g., financial parameter) are present in hisor her account to clear a previously issued check. Accordingly, the usermay transmit a void instruction to stop payment on transmitted digitalcheck data or physical check data. As illustrated by the exampleembodiment of FIG. 4 , the financial information of a user may bedynamically updated by the inventions described herein.

Turning next to FIG. 5 , a photograph of an example device presentingthe unified digital check register is illustrated. As shown, theapparatus (e.g., user device 200) includes means, such as processor 202,memory 204, communications circuitry 208, input/output circuitry 206, orthe like, for causing presentation of the unified digital check registerto a user. As described above, the user device 200 may include atouchscreen or other display configured to render or otherwise presentthe unified digital check register. For the sake of convenience and usercomfort, the unified digital check register may resemble a traditionalcarbon-copy check book in digital form. In some embodiments, thedisplayed unified digital check register may similarly resemble aphysical checkbook by providing a page turn effect in which a user input(e.g., moving from either bottom corner of the screen in an upwardfashion) causes the displayed unified digital check register to flippages to illustrate subsequent checks, physical or digital.

As described above, various technical challenges are surmounted viatechnical solutions contemplated herein. For instance, exampleembodiments described herein enable the curation of a comprehensiveunified check register comprising information about all of a user'sphysical and digital checks in a single location. Example embodimentsfurther facilitate dynamically updating the financial information storedin the unified check register, and provide new tools for managingclearance of both physical and digital checks. By providing physicaltools that enable the comprehensive curation of a user's physical checksand digital checks in a single location and new technical features thatenable electronic devices to dynamically update the financialinformation associated with the user, example implementations of thepresent invention thus confront and solve the technical challenges posedby the increasingly complex payment ecosystem permitted by the ubiquityof mobile device power and interconnectivity.

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate flowcharts describing the operation of apparatuses,methods, and computer program products according to example embodimentscontemplated herein. It will be understood that each flowchart block,and combinations of flowchart blocks, may be implemented by variousmeans, such as hardware, firmware, processor, circuitry, and/or otherdevices associated with execution of software including one or morecomputer program instructions. For example, one or more of theoperations described above may be implemented by an apparatus executingcomputer program instructions. In this regard, the computer programinstructions may be stored by a memory 204 of a user device 200 and maybe executed by various circuitry components of the user device 200. Aswill be appreciated, any such computer program instructions may beloaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (e.g., hardware)to produce a machine, such that the resulting computer or otherprogrammable apparatus implements the functions specified in theflowchart blocks. These computer program instructions may also be storedin a computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that theinstructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an articleof manufacture, the execution of which implements the functionsspecified in the flowchart blocks. The computer program instructions mayalso be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to causea series of operations to be performed on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process suchthat the instructions executed on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide operations for implementing the functions specified inthe flowchart blocks.

The flowchart blocks support combinations of means for performing thespecified functions and combinations of operations for performing thespecified functions. It will be understood that one or more blocks ofthe flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems whichperform the specified functions, or combinations of special purposehardware with computer instructions.

Conclusion

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain examplecombinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated thatdifferent combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided byalternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elementsand/or functions than those explicitly described above are alsocontemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for generating a unified digitalcheck register, the apparatus comprising: input/output circuitryconfigured to receive check data; check evaluation circuitry configuredto determine whether received check data corresponds to a digital checkor a physical check; digital check circuitry configured to, in responseto a determination by the check evaluation circuitry that a firstportion of the received check data corresponds to a digital check,generate digital check data in a first data structure of a first datastructure type based on transforming the received check data to thefirst data structure; physical check circuitry configured to, inresponse to a determination by the check evaluation circuitry that asecond portion of the received check data corresponds to a physicalcheck, generate physical check data in a second data structure of asecond data structure type based on transforming the received check datato the second data structure; and registry management circuitryconfigured to: generate a unified digital check register including thedigital check data stored in the first data structure and the physicalcheck data stored in the second data structure, the unified digitalcheck register configured to access the first data structure and thesecond data structure; and modify the first data structure or the seconddata structure of the unified digital check register based oninformation received from an external device related to the receivedcheck data.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinput/output circuitry is further configured to cause presentation ofthe unified digital check register to a user.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the input/output circuitry is configured to receivecheck data corresponding to a digital check via a user input of digitalcheck data provided in response to presentation of a digital check formby the input/output circuitry.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the input/output circuitry is configured to receive check datacorresponding to a physical check via tactile user input on a resistiveor capacitive surface of the apparatus.
 5. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the registry management circuitry is further configuredto modify the unified digital check register by performingreconciliation calculations between one or more data entries of theunified check dataset to modify one or more financial parameters of auser profile associated with the unified digital check register.
 6. Amethod for generating a unified digital check register, the methodcomprising: receiving, by input/output circuitry; check data;determining, by check evaluation circuitry, whether the received checkdata corresponds to a digital check or a physical check; in response todetermining that a first portion of the received check data correspondsto a digital check, generating, by digital check circuitry, digitalcheck data in a first data structure of a first data structure typebased on transforming the received check data to the first datastructure; in response to determining that a second portion of thereceived check data corresponds to a physical check, generating, byphysical check circuitry, physical check data in a second data structureof a second data structure type based on transforming the received checkdata to the second data structure; generate, by the registry managementcircuitry, a unified digital check register including the digital checkdata stored in the first data structure and the physical check datastored in the second data structure, the unified digital check registerconfigured to access the first data structure and the second datastructure; and modify, by the registry management circuitry, the firstdata structure or the second data structure of the unified digital checkregister based on information received from an external device relatedto the received check data.
 7. The method according to claim 6, furthercomprising causing, by the input/output circuitry, presentation of theunified digital check register to a user.
 8. The method according toclaim 6, wherein receiving check data corresponding to a digital checkcomprises: receiving user input of digital check data provided inresponse to presentation of a digital check form by the input/outputcircuitry, or receiving digital check data from an external device. 9.The method according to claim 6, wherein receiving check datacorresponding to a physical check comprises receiving a tactile userinput on a resistive or capacitive surface of the apparatus.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein receiving a tactile user input on acapacitive surface further comprises a tactile user input on a physicalmedium received by the capacitive surface comprised of an anti-staticand conductive material.
 11. The method according to claim 6, furthercomprising modifying the unified digital check register by performingreconciliation calculations modifying one or more financial parametersof a user profile associated with the unified digital check register.12. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting a voidinstruction to an external device.
 13. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium for using an apparatus to generate aunified digital check register, the non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause theapparatus to: receive check data; determine whether the received checkdata corresponds to a digital check or a physical check; in response todetermining that a first portion of the received check data correspondsto a digital check, generate digital check data in a first datastructure of a first data structure type based on transforming thereceived check data to the first data structure; in response todetermining that a second portion of the received check data correspondsto a physical check; generate physical check data in a second datastructure of a second data structure type based on transforming thereceived check data to the second data structure; generate a unifieddigital check register including the digital check data stored in thefirst data structure and the physical check data stored in the seconddata structure, the unified digital check register configured to accessthe first data structure and the second data structure; and modify thefirst data structure or the second data structure of the unified digitalcheck register based on information received from an external devicerelated to the received check data.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, furthercomprising instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus tocause presentation of the unified digital check register to a user. 15.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim13, wherein receiving check data corresponding to a digital checkcomprises: receiving user input of digital check data provided inresponse to presentation of a digital check form by the input/outputcircuitry, or receiving digital check data from an external device. 16.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim13, wherein receiving check data corresponding to a physical checkcomprises receiving a tactile user input on a resistive or capacitivesurface of the apparatus.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 13, further comprising instructionsthat, when executed, cause the apparatus to transmit at least one of thedigital check data or the physical check data to an external device. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim13, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause theapparatus to transmit a void instruction to an external device.
 19. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the first data structure type andthe second data structure type differ by at least one parametercorresponding to a digital check and a physical check, respectively.